TL;DR
- Stellar is preparing the Bell upgrade to improve smart accounts, accelerate ledger processing, and advance the implementation of quantum-resistant signatures.
- The testnet and mainnet upgrade votes are scheduled for November 3 and November 23, respectively.
- The project aims to introduce quantum-resistant signatures across all accounts by the end of 2027.
Stellar is preparing the Bell upgrade, also known as Protocol 30, to strengthen its blockchain’s protection against potential quantum computer attacks. The upgrade also includes improvements to smart accounts used by businesses and faster ledger processing.
The votes to activate the upgrade are scheduled for November 3 on testnet and November 23 on mainnet, both at 17:00 UTC.
The network has already released Stellar Core v30.0.0 and is preparing new versions of its development tools. Protocol 30 will change the ledger header format, meaning some applications will need to update their SDKs to maintain compatibility.
Introducing Bell (Protocol 30).
Bell is designed to make smart accounts ready for businesses at scale and begin work on quantum-safe signatures and faster ledgers.
Testnet upgrade: Nov 3
Mainnet upgrade: Nov 23Learn more in the upgrade guide👇https://t.co/vjS0vLy7rT
— Stellar | Meridian Oct 28-29 (@StellarOrg) October 20, 2026
Stellar Prepares New Signatures to Protect Accounts
The Stellar Development Foundation introduced its Quantum Preparedness Plan (QPP) in June, aiming to gradually replace cryptographic mechanisms vulnerable to future quantum computers.
The project envisions enterprise wallets adopting quantum-resistant signatures through Soroban smart contracts during 2026.
By the end of 2027, all accounts are expected to be able to add a quantum-resistant signer without changing their addresses or losing their transaction history.
Stellar will also need to protect its consensus mechanism, which currently uses Ed25519 signatures to authenticate validator messages.
XLM Begins to Climb
According to recent CoinMarketCap data, XLM is trading at around $0.1852, up 2.1% over the past 24 hours. Its market capitalization stands at approximately $6.52 billion, while trading volume during the period is around $135 million.
During the session, the token recorded a low of $0.1781 and a high of $0.1855. Its price remains within that range, although there is not yet enough evidence to attribute the increase to the Bell upgrade.
